Oil-level indicatoe and signaling device



APPLICATION FILED APR. 27.19"].

Patented July 22, 1919.

TI'II COLUMBIA I'LANOGRAI'II (0.. wAsllma'roN. I). c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR JOSEPH ROUTSON, OF. PRAIRIE DEPOT, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JAMES H. HENDERSON AND HERBERT A. WERNER, OF PRAIRIE DEPOT, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application med April 27, 1919. Serial No, 231,155.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J.- RooTsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prairie Depot, in the county'of wood and State of Ohio, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Level Indicator and Signaling Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the use of explosive engines the serious results likely to follow from the absence of a sufiicient quantity of lubricant in the crankchamber of the engine are well understood. It frequently happens that the oil has disappeared without the operator being aware of the fact until dama e has been done to the several bearings to e lubricated.

My invention is designed to prevent mishaps of this character, and is intended, more particularly, to furnish a device by which the amount of oil in the crank-chamber of an engine may be seen at a glance and without touching the engine, and by which, when the oil in the crank-chamber has reached such a low stage that it requires prompt attention, a signal will be given to the operator calling his attention to the deficiency.

To these ends my invention consists of the device and construction hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional elevation of my device taken on line B-B, Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 a sectional top-plan view of the same taken on line A-A, Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in both views.

In the drawings, 1 is a cylindrical shell composed preferably of sheet brass, the bot tom of which is seated, as at 2, in a on like base 3, which is provided with a suitable drain-cock. Into this base at its bottom leads one end of a pipe 4, the opposite end being threaded for connection with the crank-chamber of an engine. This connection should be at a point slightly above the lowest admissible 011 level in the chamber. 5 is a metal cap having a downwardl projecting flange which fits closely over t e top 'der or sleeve 7, in which is fitted a of the cylinder 1. The cap 5 has also an .upwardly projecting flange 6 which receives with a close fitthe bottom of a metal cylinlass cylinder 8. In the cylinder 7 is a s1 ghtopening 9 through which the interior of the into the chamber of the glass cylinder 8. By means of the nuts 12 the float may be adjusted on the rod. The cylindercap 10 is provided with a suitable binding-post 13, from which leads a conductor 14. 15 is a depending metal strip in the chamber of the glass cylinder 8, and at its upper end is connected to and held in place by the bindingpost screw, as at 16. At its lower end the strip 15 is bent at a right angle, and has therethrough an opening 17 through which the rod 12 may slide without touching the strip. At its top the rod 12 carries a contact-piece 18, adapted to contact with the strip 15 when the float reaches a predetermined point in its downward travel. The bindingost is suitably insulated from the cylinder 'i, as at 19, and the rod 12 slides in an insulating guide piece 20, which prevents the rod from accidentally contacting with the strip 15. The wire 14 is connected with a batter or other source of electrical energy, and witli a suitable alarm, and is grounded on the metal Work of the engine.

The operation of my device is as follows: The ipe 4 being connected with the crankcham er of an engine, and the line 14 being connected as above indicated, the oil in the chamber of the cylinder 1 will stand at the same height as the oil in the crank-chamber of the engine. When the oil in the crankchamber nears the danger point the float 11 is lowered so that the contact-piece 18 comes in contact with the stri circuit through the strip 15, conductor 14, battery, alarm, engine cylinder 1, ca 5 and rod 12, and actuating the alarm. f preferred the alarm may consist of a device for 15 thus closing the opening the sparking circuit thus stopping t e engine until the oil in the crank-chamber is renewed.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire b Letters Patent 15,--

1. In a device 0 the described character,

a metal container adapted and arranged at its lower end for connection with an adjacent crank-chamber, a cap for the container, a glass tube mounted upon said cap, for the glas tube a metal sleeve havin I therethrough a sight-aperture, a closure or the top of the metal sleeve, a float in the chamber of the container, a vertical rod carried by th float and passing through and contaetin r with said cap, a binding-post upon said e osure and insulated from said sleeve, a metal strip connected with said bindingpost and extending downwardly in the glass tube and being bent at an an 1e at its lower end, a contact-piece carried vy the vertical rod near its upper end, the arran ement being such that the descent of the cat brings the metal strip and the contact piece together.

2. In a device of the described character, a metal container adapted and arranged at its lower end for connection with an adjacent crank-chamber, a cap for the container, a glass tube mollnled upon said cap, for the glass tube a metal sleeve having therethrough a sight-aperture, a closure for the top of the metal sleeve, a float in the chamber of the container, a vertical rod carried by the float and passil'lg through and eontaetii'ig with said cap, means for the relative adjustment of the float and the rod, a binding-poet upon said closure and in sulated from said sleeve, 21 metal strip connected with said blnding-post and extending downwardly in the glass tube and being bent at an angle at its lower end, a contact-piecc carried by the vertical rod near its upper end, the arrangement being such that the descent of the float brings the metal strip and the contact piece together.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two Witnesses,

ARTHUR JOSEPH ROUTSON.

Witnesses:

H. A. WERNER, C. J. HARMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, shin n, 0- 

